Summary
Aim
This study examined trends in robbery, theft and drug offences in Kings Cross over a six-year period (from the commencement of MSIC in May 2001 until December 2007) and compared these to trends in the rest of Sydney.
Abstract
Previous studies examining the impact of Sydney’s Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) on drugrelated crime in Kings Cross have found that the Centre had no adverse effects. This study examined trends in robbery, theft and drug offences in Kings Cross over a six-year period (from the commencement of MSIC in May 2001 until December 2007) and compared these to trends in the rest of Sydney. Spatial analysis of the distribution of selected drug offences and ‘move-on’ incidents was also conducted. The present study finds a continuation of the decline in the incidence of robbery and property crime in Kings Cross. The results for drug offences were mixed. There were increases in arrests for possession/use of cocaine and possession/use of amphetamine but decreases in arrests for dealing/trafficking in narcotics and use/possession of narcotics. Spatial analysis revealed an increase in the proportion of ‘move-ons’ and persons arrested for drug/use possession within 50 metres of the MSIC. It is unclear whether these trends are attributable to the MSIC itself or other factors in the Kings Cross area.